Welcome to the latest edition of my Friday Foodie series, where each week I feature my favourite health and wellness stars. Each week, they share their tips for healthy living and their favourite recipe.

This week I am featuring Blandine Wilcox who is a French food blogger and yoga teacher. I met Blandine through Bright-Eyed & Blog-Hearted community and I am super keen to try her Banana Shake with Blueberry Swirl that she is sharing with us today.

Tell us a little bit about yourself, your family, what you do and what inspired you to lead a healthier lifestyle?

Hello and thanks so much for having me over on your blog Ness!

I’m Blandine, a French food blogger, yoga teacher and mum-to-be, passionate about holistic wellbeing and nature. I’ve always been into cooking and exercising, but my journey to a healthier lifestyle really started about four years ago, as I was training to become a yoga teacher. As I connected deeper with my body and soul, I understood that your body is your temple, and every food you eat or anything you apply on your skin affects every single cell of your body. With this in mind, I’ve adopted a healthy way of life since then and never felt more radiantly alive.

What tips would you give to someone who has just commenced living a healthier lifestyle?

Take it slowly, one step at a time, making incremental changes in your everyday life, and you will soon start noticing the difference.

Take time to listen to yourself and do what feels good for you.

Do you have any tips for eating well on a budget?

Yes, definitely. My top tip is to buy fresh produce that are in season, as seasonal fare tends to be much cheaper than if you had to buy foods which had travelled from the other side of the world.

At the health food shop, buying grains, seeds, nuts, etc. in bulk can be a very cost-effective option.

Finally, preparing meal plans for the week and buying only what you need to prepare said meals will prevent buying more than needed and avoid waste.

How do you deal with food struggles from your family?

I’m lucky that my hubby tends to eat with pleasure most of the food I cook for him. However, I try to respect that he might not be so fond of certain things and leave them out for him.

I find that trying to cook/prepare a certain ingredient in a different way is sometimes all it takes to get over a certain food struggle.

What is your favourite food?

That’s a hard one to pick, but I would say fruits. Since I was a child, I’ve always had a big crush on fruits, whether raw or cooked.

Who is your favourite foodie and why?

There are so many inspiring foodies out there, but if I had to pick one, I would say Sarah Britton from ‘My New Roots’, for sharing her incredible knowledge on wholesome eating and living. She has really inspired me on my own health journey.

What is something that you enjoy doing when you have some ‘me’ time?

I like to slow down and try to live in the moment, savouring life’s simple pleasures. I find spending time in nature, whether swimming in the ocean or climbing up a mountain really refreshing. Practicing yoga and meditation is part of my daily wellbeing routine. You can also find me crafting dream catchers or macramé.

What is your favourite recipe to cook?

I do love snacking on fresh smoothies and juices, and today I thought I’d share with you a recipe for a banana shake, perfect to refuel after a workout:

Banana Shake with Blueberry Swirl

Author: Blandine Wilcox
Yield: Serves 2 1x

Scale

Ingredients

4 tbsp blueberries, fresh or frozen
Dash of lime juice
2 bananas, peeled and sliced
2 tbsp nut butter (such as cashew or almond)
1 tbsp hemp seeds
Dash of maple syrup
200ml oat milk (or hemp, rice, almond, etc.)

Instructions

Place the blueberries in the bottom of two tall glasses. Add a dash of lime juice in each glass and muddle the berries until mushy.
Place the bananas, nut butter, hemp seeds, maple syrup and plant milk into a blender and blend until smooth.
Carefully pour the banana shake over the blueberries and serve.

A little bit more about Blandine and where you can find her

Food Moods is the place where I share my love for wholesome seasonal cooking and living. I believe that cooking simple healthy meals for you and your family and tuning in with the rhythms of nature will leave you nourished and glowing from the inside out. When not in the kitchen, you can most often than not find me on the mat, practicing or teaching yoga, or in the outdoors connecting with Mama Earth.

Website: www.foodmoods.net

Facebook: www.facebook.com/foodmoods

Instagram: www.instagram.com/food_moods

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/foodmoodsblog